Use of Low-Cost Videomicroscopy Versus Standard Videodermatoscopy in Trichoscopy: A Controlled, Blinded Noninferiority Trial

In a controlled, blinded noninferiority trial involving 25 patients with various types of hair loss, the study compared the effectiveness of low-cost videomicroscopes (VMs) to standard videodermatoscopes (VDs) in trichoscopy. The VMs, which cost approximately USD 30, were able to correctly identify all hair shaft alterations. However, they had limitations in visualizing certain follicular and perifollicular features such as yellow dots, white dots, and perifollicular scales due to low color quality and resolution. Black dots were easily recognized by both types of equipment. The study concluded that while VMs may have some utility in evaluating hair loss, they should not be routinely used for reliable scalp trichoscopy without further individual controlled noninferiority trials, as their accuracy can be compromised by these visualization issues.